Improvement in ice-creepers



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIoE.

CHARLES BRODHEAD, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ICE-CREEPERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 177,797, dated May 23,1876; application filed March 11, 1876.

To all whom it may concern: 1 Be it known that I, CHARLES BRODHEAD, ofBethlehem, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new anduseful Improvements in Ice- Oreepers, of whichthe following is a specification: I

. This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inice-creepers of that class in which the part carrying the pins orprojections may be thrown back out of the way when desired, to preventinjury to the flooring or carpets when in the house, or unnecessary wearof the projections when the creeper is not desired for use.

In devices of this class, as heretofore constructed, thesupportingplate, to which the plate carrying the pins or projections ishinged, has been attached directly to the bot tom of the heel, in suchposition that the said hinged plate, when folded up in contact with thesuppo'rtingplate, will bring the projections in proper position underthe heel to take hold of the ice, and, when thrown back, will set upagainst the rear of the heel, out of the way.

As thus constructed, the creeper has proved objectionable, for thereason that, when folded down for use, it is clumsy and awkward, andinconvenient to the wearer, and when thrown back out of the way forms anunsightly projection behind the heel, which is liable to catch in theclothing or surrounding objects and injure the same.

My invention is designed to obviate these objections; and it consists intwo plates, hinged together, one of said plates being adapted to sitinto, and be secured in, a recess formed at the front of the heel, theother plate being provided with pins or projections, the swinging plate,when folded upon the sta tionary plate, falling flush with the lowersurface of the heel and exposing the pins or projections, and,--whenthrown or turned out of the Way, sitting in the hollow of the shoe,between the heel and the sole of .the same, as hereinafter more fullyset forth.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents a bottom view of a shoe with myimproved creeperattached thereto, and Fig. 2 a sectional View of thesame.

The letter A represents a boot of ordinary construction, and B theice-creeper attached to the heel thereof. Said creeper consists of twoplates, 1) b, hinged together, as shown, the plate b being provided withapertures c, for the insertion of screws, and the plate I) with thepointed pins or projections c, to take hold of the ice. The heel of theshoe A is formed with a recess, (1, in front, having an inclined bottomfor the reception of the creeper B. The plateb of said creeper issecured to the bottom of said recess, the hinge sitting flush with thefront of the heel, in order that the plate b may be turned up into thehollow between the heel and sole of the shoe, to throw the projectionsout of position.

When the plate I) is folded over against the plate I), it will be seenthat, by reason of the inclined bottom of the recess in the sole of theshoe, the lower surface of the plate I) will be flush with the lowersurface of the heel, the pins on said plate projecting properly to enterand take hold of the ice.

As thus constructed, it will be evident that the creeper is free fromthe objectionsabove enumerated, as, when the swinging plate is set inposition for use, the pins from the only projecting parts relieve thedevice from all clum-.

siness or inconvenience to the wearer, and when turned up out of the waysaid plate is entirely concealed, and the projections brought in suchposition that they cannot possibly catch in or injure the clothing ofthe wearer or surrounding objects.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In combination with a recessed heel, the

hinged creeper, adapted to be turned over up- 011 the tread-surface ofthe heel when in use, or to be turned down upon the inner surface orbreast of the heel when not required.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand inthe presence of the subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES BBODHEAD.

Witnesses JOHN LONG, FR. M. BAUoH.

